2026 World Cup

[Tonyschin]

The good old days or is that the bad old days.
Derby games (games between close neighbours) were fiercely contested.

View: https://youtu.be/77jKgv5lLTM?si=Mx_2WwhlpSkuSbas

 

[Twelvefret]

" The U.S. players say it didn’t matter … and that’s what they would say. But it certainly mattered to the Belgians, who played with a sense of greater stakes: that they were defending the game against crude intrusions of political power. "
Rowan Richardo Phillips

 

[Twelvefret]

I read the play analysis and my head begins to hurt. I do not doubt there are strategies, but I also think there is creative genius that might appear as strategy.

 

[Twelvefret]

I am finding out which players play together professionally. I've enjoyed watching Luis Diaz from Columbia and discovered he and Harry Kane play on the same team.

I am learning also, like most professional athletes, football players do well financially. Of the 26 Haitian players on the roster, 16 were born outside the country.

 

[PLANofMAN]

Saw this in my Facebook feed this morning. Did this really happen or were drunk Democrats playing with A.I. again?

 

[Estariol]

Saw this in my Facebook feed this morning. Did this really happen or were drunk Democrats playing with A.I. again?View attachment 179276

Yes it did happen, he intervened with the president of FIFA to enable the player to participate in the next match. Which the USA lost. Karma is a b**ch.

 

[PLANofMAN]

Yes it did happen, he intervened with the president of FIFA to enable the player to participate in the next match. Which the USA lost. Karma is a b**ch.

As an American, I find it hilarious. As for soccer itself, I, like most Americans,
are vaguely aware of this sport. It's popular in third world and developing nations, like the U.K. and a bunch of countries in South America. It's basically polo for poor people, right?

 

[Twelvefret]

As an American, I find it hilarious. As for soccer itself, I, like most Americans,
are vaguely aware of this sport. It's popular in third world and developing nations, like the U.K. and a bunch of countries in South America. It's basically polo for poor people, right?

It is true Americans tend to be oblivious of what is happening and important for others. That you think it is only popular in developing and third world nations is illustrative of the point.

Apparently you neither understand polo or football.

 

[Twelvefret]

There is an article discussing the weakness of "pay to play" soccer in the US. Pay to play means only affluent families can participate that that the clubs use children to enrich adults. This is not only a soccer problem. MLB have facilities in other countries to develop talent. The failure of the US in this WC is not only because of pay to play, but it is a factor.

 

[Mark12]

There is an article discussing the weakness of "pay to play" soccer in the US. Pay to play means only affluent families can participate that that the clubs use children to enrich adults. This is not only a soccer problem. MLB have facilities in other countries to develop talent. The failure of the US in this WC is not only because of pay to play, but it is a factor.

That's interesting to hear. Clubs and teams etc here often have subs to pay for bits but I don't think I would say that football here is restrictive money wise. Lots of pro football players come from low income backgrounds. I can think of lots who play for teams locally to the NW who have talked about their backgrounds

 

[Twelvefret]

That's interesting to hear. Clubs and teams etc here often have subs to pay for bits but I don't think I would say that football here is restrictive money wise. Lots of pro football players come from low income backgrounds. I can think of lots who play for teams locally to the NW who have talked about their backgrounds

Players like Messi came up through football academies which included scholastic education. I am sure it’s a way out of poverty . I think his grandmother took him and he thanks her after each goal if you’ve seen him look upward.

When humans experience a process of success they think more positively about moving forward. Sports can be a vehicle as much as schooling.

 

[Twelvefret]

Ask and it shall be given, I am learning about the history of football academies in Argentina. There is a history of child abuse including sexual abuse.

Professional sport organizations including baseball and basketball have a presence in these communities.

Which is better, pay to play or these academies? I suspect neither.

 

[Twelvefret]

Congratulations to our England members for the win.

 

[Johnny Bravo]

Congratulations to our England members for the win.

Thanks, I have promised the wife if England get into the final I will take her to watch it on the big screen outside somewhere with a huge crowd of people, so she can soak up and enjoy the atmosphere and the game with everyone.
She's a huge football fan and I'll enjoy my Guinness and watch her living her best life ha ha.

 

[Twelvefret]

@Mark12 said they usually "go out on errors", but I hope it comes down to the score.