2026-2027 European Football Thread

[LisaLT]

FIFA needs to re-evaluate their stupid red card, yellow card and VAR system. I agree with Trump that this was a bad call and IF there was some mechanism for a challenge to occur more immediately and under the proper review system (in real time, not slow mo, etc), perhaps this incident would have resulted in a lesser penalty if any at all. The problem I see is that the optics are bad. Unfortunately, Trump never does anything without fanfare. If you are going to call the head of FIFA - WHY on earth broadcast that? Why not keep that to yourself so that this crazy controversy doesn't have an ill effect on the game or team? FIFA could have just said - after a more careful review of the red card, we've decided blah blah blah. NO one would have been the wiser. I'm sure the Europeans would still be pissed, but they did make an exception for Ronaldo (he's a big ratings booster and its his last World Cup), so how is this any different.

I'm happy for the outcome. I just wish it was done in private.

Also - there are no guarantees he plays tonight. He has been cleared to play. They may decide the controversy is too much and not play him.

 

[The Artist Formerly Known as PhormerPhrog]

Optics are bad??? Who cares? Even if he had kept it quiet do you think everyone at FIFA would have too? FIFA is one of the most corrupt organizations ever created by man...I care one bit about what the optics are.

 

[AroundWorldFrog]

 

[Big Frog II]

All over but the crying.

 

[BrewingFrog]

Yeah, all the fuss and bother about the Red Card doesn't mean a damn if you play like crap.

That was a swan dive into an empty pool, and the first plunge didn't kill them so they climbed up to do it again and finish the job...

 

[Frognosticator]

That blunder which caused the third goal might be the most pathetic play I’ve ever seen in any sport at any level. Complete failure from total incompetence. I think I went numb after that.

 

[The Artist Formerly Known as PhormerPhrog]

The bad optics were playing like crap on the biggest stage.

 

[PurpleBlood87]

Well it was fun while it lasted.
Hopefully in four years the USMNT can find a better keeper.

 

[AroundWorldFrog]

 

[Mean Purple]

This is where domestic viewership drops. Like other times.

Oh, well. Now on to real football.

 

[Mean Purple]

This is where domestic viewership drops. Like other times.

Oh, well. Now on to real football.

Right out the gate, some Lubbock meathead has his Sorsby question spiked by the Commish.
Love it.

 

[PurpleBlood87]

 

[Chongo94]

 

[PurpleBlood87]

So Americans don't play select baseball, basketball and hockey?

 

[froginmn]

So Americans don't play select baseball, basketball and hockey?

That's just an odd statement all around. He says that his mom made $34K so he couldn't have played club soccer. But, he played at the highest level so he kind of proved the opposite point....

We're also one of the wealthiest countries on earth, yet we repeatedly lose to countries with much more poverty.

There are numerous community sports scholarship opportunities for low income people.

Soccer is probably the cheapest sport to play, in terms of equipment - a point that has been made in commercials for the WC.

You could probably make a case that our focus on club sports puts the wrong people in place to be recognized, and we should develop and scout more talent in other places.

I was a volunteer coach for the YMCA in Fort Worth. I had a couple players who were highly skilled for their young (it was 8-9 year olds) age.

It isn't that they can't play

 

[froginmn]

^^^

Which reminds me of a great story. My team was really good and two players in particular were very talented. I tried to move them around and have them play defense, challenge them to get assists as much as goals, etc. We scored a ton of goals in 5 games and never gave up a goal.

The league was coed and there were a few girls. In one of our last games, my best player breaks away and a timid girl is in goal for the other team.

As he approaches I'm thinking, just kick it past her, not at her. Nope, he kicks a rocket at her and it hits her...right in the face.

I thought it but didn't say it: need to aim better next time - no goal (actually I think it deflected off her and went in, or maybe he got the rebound).

 

[Frognosticator]

$50k is only the 30th percentile of household income in the US. Not a high bar to clear. Stupid comment Landon.

 

[Frognosticator]

Not only that, but how many households under 50k have children of soccer-playing age? Generally parents make more money than younger childless couples and young singles.

 

[Mean Purple]

So Americans don't play select baseball, basketball and hockey?

Considering it cost ... a ball, seems more like a choice of what they want to play.

 

[BrewingFrog]

Landon Donovan is absolutely full of crap.

Do the players on Team Brazil go to elite soccer camps? Or did they pick up the game playing on a patch of dirt with other local kids? How about Argentina? Columbia? Paraguay? Chile? Or perhaps Congo? Egypt? Morocco?

There's plenty of teams that are "elite" because they have players that have raw talent, and that is because soccer is their main sport. Here in America it ranks behind damned near everything, and that probably won't change anytime soon. The USMNT has more money thrown at it than probably any other team on the planet, and we can't even beat Belgium...

Shut up, Landon.